There are so many creative teachers out there. Many of us enjoy classroom themes. I've met teachers that change their theme yearly. Not me! I like to build upon my theme year after year. The only stipulations that I have before bringing an item into my room (or creating one) is that it must serve a real purpose! Cute items are nice, but we don't have the room for that. Let's get really creative and make our classrooms effective and fun!
Camping Theme
Big surprise! My theme is a camping theme. I enjoy camping and anyone can camp! This is how I created my domain name Campfire Curriculum.A reading tent is a big hit! The students love to read quietly in here. On this tent, the sides are mesh and a teacher can keep an eye on their student at all times.
Finish your writing using our "Camperific Writing Rules" and you get to read your story to the class! I bet you could find a chair at a garage sale and turn it into a wonderful Author's Chair!
I have three boats in my classroom. This is the smallest. We can always use book storage and these are so adorable!
My leaders of the day and student readers are allowed to chill out in camping chairs. The students are cozy and they fold up easily! Look for those summer sales!
This was my last summer's creation! I used a large bucket filled with rocks to steady this sign. The bucket is covered with fabric. My husband who is NOT crafty (shhhhhh) used scrap wood and cut the corners to make arrows. After a few coats of stain and paint labels, it was almost ready. I used double sided (heavy duty) Velcro to adhere them to the post. When teaching alphabetical order this is the perfect manipulative.
This is my centers/stations wheel. It's made out of foam board and the laminated items are attached Velcro for quick station changes. The center is just a nut and bolt. Don't zoom in or you will see tiny finger prints. The students are in charge of turning the wheel.
I use coolers for center work and spelling groups. The labels on the front are laminated for durability. These coolers are small and easily lifted by first graders. I love the way they stack upon each other for quick and easy storage. Again.... look for those summer sales!
I bought these frog gardening pads in the $1 section of a local Target. When students are involved in an activity (such as the Smartboard, where students want to crowd each other up at the board) the frogs give them their own space/seat and help maintain a sense of behavior management.
At first I thought that this little grill (given to me by my Principal) was going to break my rule for theme decor. Now it lends itself to being an area to introduce a new kind of literature..... cook books! I look for all sorts of cook books and we change them out weekly. Doesn't that fish look tasty?
I use my lantern every day! The candle inside runs on a AA battery. I turn the light on when I am working with guided reading groups. My students know that when the lantern is lit they shouldn't interrupt me (except for emergencies). It has worked better than anything else I've tried!
My log pillow pile! I made these with very little skill. I bought the material online and I have questionable sewing skills. The inside is a rolled up $1 towel wrapped with packing tape and surrounded by batting. They stack up beautifully and the students love to read while resting upon them.
I have two leaders of the day. On the first day of school students draw a picture of themselves on the plate. When they see their name and face they know that they are a leader. It may be a stretch, but I use paper plates a lot when I'm camping!
I was given this picnic basket by someone who was throwing it out. I gave it a good scrub and painted a cute design on it. Now it's my "Buddy Reading Box". Students can read to a stuffed animal for buddy reading. Boys and girls alike love this addition to the classroom.
No wall space? Put your word wall on the ceiling! We stargaze for words with flashlights. I even have a center/station called "Star Gaze". I love when students are engaged in writing and they pause, look up to the ceiling, find their word, and write! They very quickly learn to look up for words and it has been the answer to the wall space conundrum.
This is my reading stump. I found a bright pink ottoman on sale at Target for $4. I covered it with material and used hot glue and a staple gun to keep the material in place. I keep whisper phones and fun reading glasses (lenses removed) inside the stump.
